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FINAL DAYS

I met the Queen two days before she died and she was in good spirits – here’s what she said to me

A PHOTOGRAPHER has told of the unforgettable moment she met the Queen two days before her death - and is sharing every detail.

Jane Barlow, who works for PA, said the Queen was frail but in good spirits when she captured the last public photos of her on Tuesday.

Jane Barlow snapped the last public photos of the Queen just days before she died
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Jane Barlow snapped the last public photos of the Queen just days before she diedCredit: AFP
Jane didn't know the shots of the Queen meeting new PM Liz Truss would be as 'significant' as they are now
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Jane didn't know the shots of the Queen meeting new PM Liz Truss would be as 'significant' as they are nowCredit: AP

Jane had been sent to Balmoral to photograph the moment the Queen met Liz Truss to formally adopt her as the new prime minister.

And, while waiting for the Conservative leader to arrive at the Queen's Highland retreat, Jane snapped some portraits.

In that time, she and the monarch shared small talk about the weather, with dark skies and heavy rain overhead for much of the day.

But Jane, who has been a staff photographer with PA in Scotland for six years, said of the Queen: "I got a lot of smiles from her."

Read more on Queen's death

Ms Truss was then formally announced and came into the room, "and she greeted her with a big smile";.

Jane was then ushered out as the Queen and new Prime Minister spoke.

One of her photos has now been widespread as the final public photo of the Queen.

Jane said: "I've had so many lovely comments about the picture.

"It's a real privilege to be able to take that picture, an honour and a privilege. It's like that for a lot of our job.

"I was there to photograph her meeting the new Prime Minister but for me the best picture was the one of the Queen on her own.

"And it has obviously become more significant now."

Speaking about the Queen, she said: "She certainly did look more frail than when I photographed her in the summer.

"When she came up for Holyrood Week at the time they were telling me she would do one, perhaps two engagements, but she did quite a lot that week."

Sun photographer Arthur Edwards has also shared some of his greatest shots of the monarch, and the effect her smile had on a room full of people.

Jane says she shared small talk with the Queen before Liz Truss arrived
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Jane says she shared small talk with the Queen before Liz Truss arrivedCredit: AP
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